Abstract: A furnace system has a furnace-tube-cap (FTC) and a slider. The FTC has a first-cap-portion coupled to a furnace tube of a furnace, a second-cap-portion with a bearing-assembly-arrangement (BAA), and an inner-tube-cap-channel (ITCC) passing from the first-to-second cap portion with an ITCC sealing arrangement extending outside the ITCC. The slider slides in the BAA to/from inject-and-rinse positions, and has a first-ramp (FR), a first-raised-surface (FRS), an intermediate-lower-surface (ILS), a second-ramp (SR), and a second-raised-surface (SRS). When the slider moves to the inject-or-rinse positions, the BAA forces a slider-part to push against an inner-channel-sealing-arrangement (ICSA) as the BAA goes from the FR-to-FRS, or the SR-to-SRS. When the slider is in the inject-or-rinse position, a first-slider-part seals the ITCC sealing arrangement.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, a total organic carbon analyzer, featuring an injector, a reactor, condensation components and two three-way valves. The injector may be configured to provide a sample. The reactor may be configured to vaporize the sample received. The condensation components may be configured to condense and trap the sample vaporized by the reactor. The two three-way valves may be arranged between the reactor and the condensation components and configured to allow flow to either bypass or pass through the reactor and the condensation components, while in the bypass mode, the sample being injected at an appropriate rate so as to allow the sample to condense at or near the same rate as the sample is being injected.

Abstract: A sliding style furnace cap features a furnace tube cap and a slider. The furnace tube cap has a first cap portion to couple to a furnace tube of a furnace, and a second cap portion with a bearing assembly arrangement. The furnace tube cap also has an inner tube cap channel passing through it with an inner tube cap channel sealing arrangement configured to extend outside the inner tube cap channel. The slider has an orifice/channel configured therein passing through the slider, couples and slides in the bearing assembly arrangement from an inject position to a rinse position, and vice versa, has a cam-like contoured surface with a first ramp configured to couple a first raised surface and an intermediate lower surface, and with a second ramp configured to couple the intermediate lower surface to a second raised surface.

Abstract: An improved reaction tube having an interior configured for bifurcated chambers. The present device has an inert chamber and a catalyst chamber where the materials contained therein are decoupled from one another. This improved tube is especially beneficial as it provides for greater working efficiency, preservation of catalytic materials, straightforward maintenance and replacement procedures, and effective isolation of unwanted particles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed to detect foam above a liquid sample in a sparge vessel, and disrupt any foam that may exist. The foam sensor includes an optical emitter and optical sensor coupled to a sparge vessel above the level of the liquid sample. Foam is detected if the light beam is attenuated or blocked. The foam disrupter provides thermal energy to raise the temperature of a surface in the sparge vessel to break up the foam, which may condense on the walls of the sparge vessel.

Abstract: A pH measurement system automatically measures the pH of samples in purge and trap sample concentrators, autosamplers or other sample delivery devices. The pH measurement system includes a pH sensor that is positioned in a pH sample reservoir. The pH sample reservoir may be automatically filled with sample from a sparge vessel, calibrated using liquid having known pH, or rinsed. A controller enables and disables the valves and pump to transmit the liquid to the pH sample reservoir.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed to detect foam above a liquid sample in a sparge vessel, and disrupt any foam that may exist. The foam sensor includes an optical emitter and optical sensor coupled to a sparge vessel above the level of the liquid sample. Foam is detected if the light beam is attenuated or blocked. The foam disrupter provides thermal energy to raise the temperature of a surface in the sparge vessel to break up the foam, which may condense on the walls of the sparge vessel.

Abstract: A photoionization detector (PID) and an improved halogen specific detector are disclosed, for direct connection of the PID outlet to the halogen specific detector inlet. The tandem detector is used for detection of volatile organic compounds and the like. A jet assembly and seal between the PID and halogen specific detector provide a leak free and upswept dead volume-free connection between the two detectors.

Abstract: An improved ECD employing an ECD cell having a third electrode, i.e. guard positioned between the ECD cell field electrodes. The guard electrode is physically interposed between said field electrodes to divert all leakage current in the support insulators which flow between the field electrodes. The guard electrode ECD cell provides improved linear dynamic range as well as avoiding deterioration from handling during manufacture or repair.

Abstract: In operating an ECD in constant current mode, two pulses are implemented either to the same electrode or to separate electrodes, thereby dispersing the space charge sheath near the collector electrode and thus enhancing electron extraction at high frequencies. This has the effect of extending both the dynamic range and the linear dynamic range.